Abu Dhabi:The Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH) has announced a strategic partnership with MSD, DSV, and RAFED to establish a regional healthcare logistics hub in the emirate. The hub, which is scheduled to begin operations in January 2027, will facilitate the re-export, storage, and distribution of medicines and vaccines from MSD's portfolio to the UAE and over ten export markets across the Middle East and Africa.
According to Wam, the collaboration was unveiled during the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit 2026, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed. The signing ceremony was attended by Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of DoH, and Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH. Key signatories included Sergey Zverev, MSD Regional President EEMEA, Fred Brut, MSD Head of International Supply Chain, Mohammad Mustafa Saeed, CEO of RAFED, and Houssam Mahmoud, CEO of DSV.
This initiative aims to bolster healthcare supply chain resilience, improve the distribution of essential medical products, and ensure efficient access to healthcare across the UAE and the wider region. The hub will be located within Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD), leveraging the emirate's strategic location and advanced logistics infrastructure.
MSD plans to utilize the facility as a central logistics center for its products, serving multiple export markets. The hub will feature advanced capabilities and expand progressively through 2027. DSV, with its extensive logistics expertise, will operate the hub in accordance with MSD's standards. RAFED will contribute by offering state-of-the-art warehousing and infrastructure to ensure secure and efficient regional distribution.
The project aligns with Abu Dhabi's vision to enhance health system preparedness and position the emirate as a global leader in healthcare, innovation, and life sciences. It reflects ongoing efforts to connect life sciences investment with healthcare delivery, aiming to improve access to medicines and vaccines and strengthen supply chain resilience across the region.